Texans linebacker Bradie James breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.

Texans linebacker Bradie James breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Chronicle

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Texans quarterback Matt Schaub throws a pass during warmups.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub throws a pass during warmups.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Chronicle

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Promising young Texans hear stern words from Kubiak after fumbles

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NEW ORLEANS — The Texans’ fumbling problems began within the final four minutes of the first quarter of Saturday’s 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Twice in that span, young, promising Texans receivers who are fighting to solidify their roles on a playoff-caliber team, turned the ball over. First, returner Trindon Holliday fumbled on a kickoff return as Isa Abdul-Quddus hit him. Saints defensive end Junior Galette picked the ball up from the ground, returning it for a touchdown. Then, just four seconds before the second quarter started, rookie receiver Keshawn Martin lost the ball as cornerback Corey White hit him.

Kubiak on Martin: “There’s no excuse for those fumbles. We don’t accept that. He’s going to play a lot. We like him and we’re going to trust him. So he can’t turn it over.”

Both players fumbled twice, though Holliday avoided a turnover on his second mistake, retaining possession as he stumbled out of bounds on a muffed punt return.

“You just tell them to make sure they just keep the ball tight, make sure they’re not running with the ball loosely,” Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson said. “You just try to remind them of it. Let those things get out of the way now. Let them not happen in the regular season.”

The Saints had their own ball-security problems, fumbling twice and setting up Texans touchdowns both times. Texans safeties Danieal Manning and Glover Quin forced the two fumbles.

The Texans’ fumbles came at inopportune times for Martin and Holliday.

Early in training camp, Martin was the favorite to become the third receiver. He scored the Texans’ only receiving touchdown in the first half with a 10-yard reception.

“I just got to learn from it, get better and protect the ball better,” Martin said. “The first one I can’t have the ball swinging out, so I put that one on myself. The second one I feel like it was just a good hit. He put his helmet right on the ball and it popped out.”

Meanwhile, Holliday is working to force his way onto the roster by being a dynamic special-teams player. He was just that in the first two preseason games, scoring touchdowns on returns in both games.

Holliday showed some of that explosiveness again Saturday, breaking off a 62-yard kickoff return shortly after his first fumble.

“If it happens I just try to come back and make an even bigger play than that,” Holliday said.